Oslo: Walrus Freya sinks boats

Enlarge image

Freya the walrus sunbathes in the Oslo fjord: The owners of the hijacked boat are not happy

Photo: TOR ERIK SCHRDER / AFP

A 700-kilogram walrus named Freya is making headlines in Norway because it climbs into small boats in the Oslo Fjord to sunbathe and rest – but the boats buckle and sink under its weight.

The walrus was sighted in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Scotland before finally landing in Frognerkilen Bay in Oslo.

Far from its home in the Arctic Circle, the animal has sunk several small boats and dinghies anchored to the shore, according to Euronews, among others.

Freya, who is named after a Norse goddess, has taken social media by storm.

Videos have been circulating online showing her attempting (often unsuccessfully) to climb aboard.

Tourists and locals watch their climbing attempts from land.

But not everyone is enthusiastic about the difficult visit.

Two local boat owners told Deutsche Welle they wanted to get rid of Freya after she was filmed damaging some boats in the town of Kragerø.

The Norwegian Fisheries Agency has warned viewers to stay away from Freya after several paddlers got dangerously close to the animal to snap a few photos.

Researchers from the University of Southeastern Norway say Freya is not used to crowds and they can be stressful and overwhelming for her.

"She does not come to rest," said walrus expert Rune Aae of the Norwegian news agency NTB.

"She needs to relax for up to 20 hours."

Freya is to be taken back to the Arctic Circle

"If she's constantly stressed out by people and their presence, that's not good for her," Aae continues.

There are ideas to close off parts of the dock in Frognerkilen Bay to onlookers.

Researchers have built the walrus' own floating platform to give it some rest and protect boats in the area.

However, Freya is not yet completely convinced of the platform.

"She prefers something that is easy to enter," says biologist Kjell Isaksen, according to Euronews.

Boats with a low stern and without a large outboard motor to block his path are Freya's preferred targets.

"Anyone who has low boats that the walrus can easily penetrate, like here at Frognerkilen, should consider whether it is possible to turn the boat and dock with the stern towards the quay," Isaksen continues.

"Then the walrus is much less likely to enter the boat and cause damage."

The researchers hope that over time the mammal will become accustomed to the dock until they can safely bring it back to the Arctic Circle.

czl